I remember exactly when I first heard her name. It was in the summer of 2008 and I was walking through the park listening to a podcast of Elvis Mitchell’s show The Treatment. The guest was director Susanna White who was out plugging her new HBO war focused mini-series Generation Kill created by David Simon (The Wire.)
Remember this was before any of us were talking about Kathryn Bigelow. But I do remember thinking how cool it was that a woman had directed most of the episodes of a war drama. She was so articulate and interesting in talking about directing action sequences that I made a mental note to take a look at the show. But I stupidly forgot to watch it and also forgot about White until last week when I read that her new film Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang was opening in England.
One thing I was surprised to read was that this is her first feature. This a a woman with a serious pedigree — she directed Bleak House for the BBC and has had many Emmy nominations, yet she didn’t get a chance to direct a film until now. Here’s what she said about it:
I think you’ll find that men who’ve done similar things to me got chances a lot quicker. For years, I thought, ‘Oh, they’re just better than me.’ But no, I’ve won the Bafta, I’ve had 23 Emmy nominations, my actors have been nominated for Baftas, Emmys, Golden Globes…
But what is so interesting is that it took her work with Generation Kill for people to see that she could I guess direct films.
“The real revelation, to me, was when I directed Generation Kill, because it was like I’d been banging my head against a big old glass ceiling. Suddenly, people saw me differently — ‘Wow, she can direct men and do these explosions.’ Yet to me it was using all the same skills I had on Bleak House or Jane Eyre. You don’t say, ‘Wow, a man directed Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility.’
Again, a woman needs to be seen in a male sphere and accepted into their world before she gets to the next level. And by the way she is getting lots of offers now.
I think it’s totally awesome that she chose for her first film a movie with women at the center. The film is adapted by Emma Thompson and she again stars as Nanny McPhee and in hopes that the US audiences will attend in larger numbers that the first film, they cast Maggie Gyllenhaal as the single mom who Nanny McPhee helps out.
Here talks about how Jane Campion’s film The Piano influenced her.
Film opens in UK this weekend and in the US in August.
Susanna White: Britain’s own Kathryn Bigelow (The Times of London)
The Film That Changed My Life, Susanna White (The Guardian)
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What an inspiring woman…
I remember seeing her resume and thinking… Wow, this woman has some great experience. I’m so glad she’s finally getting a chance to direct a feature and with Emma writing, you know it’s going to be a fantastic film.
“Again, a woman needs to be seen in a male sphere and accepted into their world before she gets to the next level. And by the way she is getting lots of offers now”
Let me give you some insight on why you need the male seal of approval. An agent once told me it was impossible to sell a woman director to Hollywood, because “they just don’t believe a woman can order George Clooney around on set, they just don’t.” I believe this excuse is used a lot. Now I’ve been thinking, has George Clooney, Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey McGuire (or any of the leading men who can get a film greenlit) EVER said that they would not work with a woman director? Have they ever given any indication in their behavior that they don’t want to work with women? As far as I could tell, George seemed perfectly happy to be sharing the screen with Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick.
So maybe we shouldn’t just target actresses to get projects financed, because I bet there are a number of male actors who actually don’t mind sharing the screen with an amazing actress or being given direction by a woman. They’re just looking for a great role.
Susanna White’s work on Generation Kill was extraordinary. I’ve been a fan of hers for years now. The miniseries had two directors and you can see the difference between Susanna’s episodes and the other (male) director’s. Plus, she cast Alex Skarsgard and then drew from him a brilliant performance in what became his break-out role. She’s an immense talent.
I’m glad to see her appreciated, though it’s a shame that it takes directing a feature to get her talent recognized, even here.
Cammy is right! It’s a pity that “Women & Hollywood” isn’t ahead of the curve in noticing and bringing women’s talent to light. The shock in some of the remarks on this blog seemed to suggest Bigelow came out of nowhere – she didn’t, she’s been directing action films for years!
Guns and explosions may qualify a woman to make features, but Mimi Leder was doing that years ago – including one with George Clooney! It just didn’t turn out to be a great movie, and where did she go? Women like Nora Ephron and Nancy Myers have also been directing huge-name male actors – like Jack Nicholson – for years, but as has been remarked elsewhere, “sex comedies” don’t command respect. Hmmm…Women-directed sex comedies, Judd Apatow does all right.
It doesn’t just take explosions – or great actors – to get respect. A hundred reasons may be given, but it’s the sexism still rampant in “Hollywood.” And it’s sad. So many of us were inspired by “The Piano”, as Susanna White says she was in a separate interview. Jane Campion should have won best director when that film came out!!!! But, as White also said, her boyfriend didn’t “get” it – too many men didn’t, and perhaps that’s why.
I am so happy for White, but also because she has been able to work so consistently. Too many women are shot down early or never given a chance to get the experience and grow as directors. England seems to be better than the States because there is so much great TV. But look at some of the TV directors here – and look them up on IMBd…they have directed hundreds of episodes. Who are they? What are their stories? How many of them wanted to do features? How many were denied?
I do wish that this blog would unearth some of the great talents before jumping on the bandwagon when they become front page news! I am glad this blog exists but I think it can be more investigative, maybe it would help giving some talented but hidden women a boost.
typo alert: IMDb…
Zoe- You got some new great talents? Send them my way. I’d be happy to write about them. PS – Mimi Leder has been directing TV here in the states and has another movie in development.
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